The Health Benefits of Bison Meat
Why bison is one of the best foods for men’s sexual health
Eating red meat is associated with masculinity and virility. But overindulging in red meat is associated with elevated blood cholesterol. And cholesterol and a sexy diet don’t mix. But the health benefits of bison meat may offer the right balance between perceived manliness and actual men’s health.
That’s why we’re recommending American bison meat, (also marketed as American buffalo), as an alternative to other, more popular red meats as a good food choice for men’s sexual health.
view the list of all 10 Best Foods for Men’s Sexual Health
What is red meat?
There is some confusion as to what is red meat vs white meat. Dietary guidelines generally refer to white meat as poultry and fish. This means four-legged land animals, including beef, lamb and pork are red meat. However, some food studies include pork in the white meat category. That being said, the United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA), maintains that pork is red meat based on the amount of myoglobin in the flesh.
And the definition of what constitutes white meat vs red meat gets even more confusing. The USDA classifies the meat of flightless birds like emu and ostrich as red meat because the ph in their flesh is similar to that of beef.
With such a wide range of meat products making the list of red meats, we’ve chosen to compare bison to the meat it most closely resembles, beef, for the purpose of illustrating why bison is a great red meat choice for men.
Bison meat health benefits
The first reason we put this red meat into our list of foods for men is that it delivers a high dose of protein. So if you’re wondering, “Is bison meat healthy?,” here’s the first thing you need to know: Men, particularly active men, need a significantly higher intake of protein than women to sustain energy and overall health. But men also need that protein intake to ensure testosterone production.
Is red meat good for you?
And although you can get plenty of protein from plant-based sources, this red meat offers a significant amount of protein compared with calories and fat. It is one of the red meat benefits that can’t be overlooked.
Bison vs beef
A four-ounce bison steak has about the same amount of protein as the same size portion of beef but with 1/3 fewer calories and half the fat of beef. So as far as meats go, bison is a good choice for getting men the protein they need for performance and sexual health.
As we alluded to in the introduction, cholesterol can be a significant threat to men’s sexual health. An interesting bison fact, according to The Bison Council, this meat not only has less saturated fat than beef, it has less than pork or chicken.
Bison meat nutrition
In addition to being a quality protein source, bison is high in B vitamins. In fact, it is a better source of vitamin B12 than is beef, meat noted for its B12 content. And bison is also a noted source of iron, phosphorous, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.
Why bison may be the healthiest red meat
One of the lowest fat, lowest calorie sources of animal protein, American buffalo meat promotes both dopamine and norepinephrine production, which not only aid in boosting mood but also enhances sex drive, sexual desire and the sexual experience.
Is bison better than beef for the environment?
There’s a lot of discussion these days about reducing red meat intake as an environmental effort. But is this still true if you’re choosing this beef alternative? Technically, raising this game has many of the same negative environmental impacts as raising cattle.
However, an in-depth investigation into the environmental issue in Modern Farmer concludes that, because modern American buffalo ranching is less impactful than modern cattle ranching practices, you are reducing your environmental impact by choosing bison meats over beef. And since the cost per pound of this game meat is significantly higher than the price of beef, you’re likely to consume less, further improving the environmental impact of eating red meat.
How to cook bison
One small drawback is that buffalo, and most varieties of game meats, can be a little tricky to cook because of their low-fat content. The meat easily dries out and can become tough if you’re not careful.
Beginners may want to start cooking bison with ground meat to make bison burgers or meatballs. (We’ve linked to my bison burger recipe below.)
But once you’ve mastered cooking with this lean, game meat, you’ll be grilling bison steaks and maybe even fajitas or bison steak sandwiches. And once you understand how to work with game meats, you can use bison as a substitute in most beef recipes.
Where to buy bison
You may find bison at your local grocery store. (Mine sells ground bison but not bison filets.)
If you google it, you’ll find a number of American ranchers selling grass-fed, natural bison direct, like Northstar Bison. You can also try an online gourmet foods retailer like D’Artagnan. There is also a great bison selection on Amazon.com.
Some of our favorite bison recipes:
Coffee-Kissed Buffalo Burger
Bison Bourguignon
Easy Herb-Marinated Buffalo Steak
10 Best Foods For Men
BONUS: Wine
Edited by Delahna Flagg: This article was reviewed and additional research provided by Center for Mind-Body Medicine certified practitioner and Eat Something Sexy Nutrition Director Delahna Flagg.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It is important to consult your physician before making dietary changes.
This article was written in 2014 and most recently updated in May, 2021.
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